Russia will abide by the New START nuclear restrictions, provided Washington does the same
In a new development reflecting the complexities of the global security landscape, Russia announced on Wednesday that it will continue to abide by the limits imposed on its nuclear weapons under the New START treaty, despite its effective expiration, provided that the United States adheres to the same standards and restrictions. This announcement comes as a conditional reassurance amid international concerns about a new arms race.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov clarified Russia's position, stating that Moscow's self-imposed "freeze" on increasing its nuclear arsenal remains in effect. Lavrov emphasized that this self-imposed commitment will continue "unless the United States exceeds the limits stipulated" in previous agreements, thus placing the onus on Washington to maintain strategic stability.
NATO warns and calls for responsibility
On the other hand, in a swift response, NATO called for restraint and utmost responsibility. A NATO official stated that the expiration of the New START treaty, the last major bilateral nuclear disarmament agreement between the world's two largest nuclear powers, necessitates extreme caution. The official, quoted by AFP, said that "restraint and responsibility in the nuclear sphere are essential for global security," warning of the grave consequences of any uncontrolled escalation.
Historical background: What is the New START Treaty?
To understand the dimensions of this event, one must return to the origins of the New START Treaty, signed in Prague in 2010 by then-Presidents Barack Obama and Dmitry Medvedev, and which entered into force in 2011. The treaty's primary objective was to cap the number of deployed strategic nuclear warheads at 1,550 for both Russia and the United States, a significant reduction compared to previous Cold War-era treaties. It also included mechanisms for mutual verification and inspection to ensure compliance, making it a cornerstone of the international security architecture for the past decade.
The repercussions of the situation and its impact on international security
This Russian-American dispute takes on exceptional importance in light of current geopolitical tensions, particularly with the ongoing war in Ukraine and the deterioration of relations between Moscow and the West to their lowest point. Observers believe that the collapse of the last remaining nuclear arms control frameworks could open the door to a new and unbridled nuclear arms race, threatening international peace and security. Moscow's linking of its commitments to Washington's behavior indicates that channels of nuclear diplomacy have not been completely severed, but they have become extremely fragile and are suspended by a thin thread of almost nonexistent mutual trust, leaving the world cautiously awaiting the next steps from both capitals.
